Archived press release

Government publishes ilisu dam report

3 July 2001

The Government today published the long-awaited Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Ilisu Dam in Turkey. A preliminary review of the EIA summary suggests that it fails to provide assurance that the UK Government conditions of December 1999 will be met. Nor does it address all of the relevant concerns. Public consultation on the report was also announced.

The report follows massive concern about the impact of building the dam. Balfour Beatty has applied for an export credit guarantee of at least $200 million from the UK Government. Without the guarantee of taxpayers' support, the firm is likely to withdraw from the project. The Ilisu dam would flood dozens of settlements and affect tens of thousands of Kurdish people. It would destroy the world historic site of Hasankeyf and threaten water conflict with neighbouring states Iraq and Syria.

Kerim Yildiz, Director of the Ilisu Dam Campaign said:
“We will look very closely at the report to check that it accurately documents Turkey's appalling record on resettlement in past dam projects and reports on continuing human rights abuses in the region. Taking into account both of these factors will be key if the UK is to meet its obligations under international human rights law.”

Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth said:
“Building the Ilisu Dam would damage the environment, destroy historic towns and villages,abuse the human rights of tens of thousands of Kurdish people and threaten regional peace. Hopefully today's Government announcement of public consultation into the project signals that, at long last, they too are waking up to these concerns.”

This week the Turkish government renewed the State of Emergency covering the region. An Ilisu Dam Campaign fact finding mission to the region last month found that human rights abuses,including torture and suppression of freedom of speech are still occurring on a phenomenal scale in the region.

The mission has found human rights abuses directly associated with the Ilisu Dam. It also concluded that consultation with affected communities has been grossly inadequate and found evidence of falsification of questionnaire responses. Attempts to save parts of Hasankeyf are totally inadequate, contravening international standards. The current situation in the region must be reflected in the EIA and the decision.

The report of the fact finding mission is available from FOE or from the Ilisu Dam Campaign

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust